For moms and kittens, a day and a season

Alley Cat Allies
Tis the season -- kitten season, that is, and organizations like Alley Cat Allies really go to work saving, vetting, finding homes for the newcomers.

The first animal I saw on yesterday's walk was a pregnant tabby cat. She circled me in a friendly way, showing off a pretty purple collar -- and foreshadowing today's entry about kitten season.

Ahhh, kitten season: the time of year is when friends of animals, especially those wanting to help feral cats, are busiest. Kittens keep turning up, and only with great good luck are they found, vetted and adopted, instead of joining the ranks of homeless cats, subject to the vagaries of humans, vehicles, predators, and so on.

I learned about the Banfield Pet Hospitals, connected with PetSmart stores, online, and now receive regular newsletters. The info about cats and dogs is often worth a skim, and since the latest issue includes cat reproduction numbers, I'm citing it here.

Though estimates vary on the number of kittens produced by one cat, the numbers are
still staggering. Of course, the bottom-line recommendation is to spay or neuter cats. It's hard to argue, and who would want to? Take a look at "How Many Kittens Can One Cat Breed?"

The subject of spay-neuter probably gets the most attention during spring and summer, a.k.a. the kitten season. One New Jersey veterinarian, whose practice is limited to cats, works steadily to cut the numbers of stray/feral/homeless felines.

Featured in an entry here early last December, Dr. Carolyn Wooley, of McSnip, in Pennington, is offering special May rates for spay-neuter. Earlier this year, on spay-neuter day, she pitched in at a Lambertville clinic.

McSnip

Alley Cat Allies, an organization all about cats, was the source of excellent info about the differences between stray and feral cats that I cited here awhile ago. Last month, anticipating kitten season, ACA appealed for donations to help them
respond to myriad question about cats and kittens in need – and to keep them
out of shelters, where their lives would be in danger.

The appeal included this information: "We've created online resources like our photo gallery that tracks a kitten's progress from day 1 to 10 weeks, so folks know what to do based on a kitten's age, as well as our neonatal kitten care and kitten socialization guides. And we've fostered relationships with local groups to give on-the-ground help when necessary.

"When kittens are born, they are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Their eyes are closed, and they are completely dependent on their mothers. They cannot see, hear, or keep themselves warm on their own."

Finally, ACA says, "We want to make sure that everyone who finds a newborn litter knows
what to do to keep them safe, happy and healthy—like making sure kittens aren't
taken away from their mom too soon or too late, knowing when the time is right to spay/neuter, and how to find homes for friendly kittens."

For this weekend's mother's day observance, Alley Cat Allies offered a choice of
three mother cat-kitten images to send mom, available on its website. Yes, they're "heartwarming" pictures, and I fell for them, sending greetings to two women I admire who are great friends of cats.

Lambertville-based Animal Alliance wants it known that starting May 1, their new "Cat Adoption Center" is open weekdays from 3-7pm; Saturdays and Sundays 12-4 pm. Two rooms in the Planned Pethood clinic have been dedicated to cats awaiting adoptive homes.

The "fabulous felines" who are ready to move range from small kittens to adults, in every color. All have been tested for Feline Leukemia/FIV, spayed or neutered and wormed, and they're up to date on vaccines.

For details, directions or donation info, visit the website or the
Cat Adoption Center at 1432 Route 179 North, Lambertville.